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If you’re in search of a truly captivating spectacle this weekend, don’t forget to look up and witness the dazzling Orionid meteor shower. This celestial event will be at its peak on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. ET, but meteors will be visible throughout the weekend, with a rate of 10 to 20 per hour, according to EarthSky. Regardless of your location, you’ll have the opportunity to see these magnificent meteors streaking across the night sky.
The best time to catch a glimpse of a meteor is in the early morning hours when the radiant, which is the point where the meteors seem to originate from (in this case, constellation Orion), is at its highest. Dr. Ashley King, a planetary science researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, suggests that meteors will start appearing as soon as it gets dark, so you won’t need to wait until the early morning hours to see them.
However, it’s worth noting that the moon will be in its first quarter phase this weekend and will set close to midnight. This means that its brightness may slightly affect the visibility of the meteors. Dr. King advises waiting for the moon to set before stargazing. Even if you’re in a city with light pollution, you’ll still be able to spot a few meteors by simply looking up at the sky and being patient.
To increase your chances of seeing a meteor, Dr. King recommends spending at least 10 to 20 minutes outside before stargazing to allow your eyes to adjust to the low light. If possible, find a location away from light pollution that offers a clear view of the dark sky. This will provide you with the best opportunity to witness the Orionid meteors in all their glory.
The Orionid meteors originate from one of the most famous comets, Halley, which is currently orbiting the sun and won’t be visible from Earth until 2061. However, as our planet passes through the trail of debris left by Halley, we are treated to the Orionid meteor shower. In early May, Earth passes through a different section of Halley’s orbit trail, resulting in another meteor shower known as the Eta Aquariids.
Dr. King explains that what we see as meteors are actually tiny grains of comet dust traveling at high speeds. When these grains enter Earth’s atmosphere, they heat up and vaporize, creating the bright streaks we call meteors. The Orionids are known for being bright and fast-moving, reaching speeds of 148,000 miles per hour (238,183 kilometers per hour), according to NASA. Their high speed often creates long trails in the sky, evidence of the dust released by the meteors as they heat up.
While this year’s Orionid meteor shower is expected to have normal rates, there’s always the possibility of a surprise spike in meteor activity, as seen between 2006 and 2009 when the Orionids reached anywhere between 50 to 75 meteors per hour, reports the American Meteor Society. Not only are these meteors a spectacular sight, but they also hold ancient dust that dates back 4.6 billion years, making them remnants of the birth of our solar system.
After the Orionids reach their peak, the hourly rate of visible meteors will gradually decrease until the shower ends on November 22. If you miss the peak this weekend, don’t worry, as there are still five other meteor showers to look forward to this year: the Southern Taurids on November 5-6, the Northern Taurids on November 11-12, the Leonids on November 17-18, the Geminids on December 13-14, and the Ursids on December 21-22.
In addition to meteor showers, there are three remaining full moons in 2023, according to the Farmers’ Almanac: the Hunter’s Moon on October 28, the Beaver Moon on November 27, and the Cold Moon on December 26.
While the recent annular solar eclipse on October 14 provided a mesmerizing display for spectators in North, Central, and South America, the next solar eclipse event won’t occur until 2024. However, on October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, parts of North America, and much of South Africa. During this eclipse, a portion of the moon will pass into Earth’s shadow, allowing the shadow to be seen on the moon for a short period.
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